Horse-collar.



C. ECKERLE.

HORSE COLLAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1915.

1,1,6? Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 60.. WASHINGTON D c CI-IBIS'IAV ECKEELE, OF MERRILL, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE I ECKERLE, OF WAUSAU, WISCONSIN.

HORSE-COLLAR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHRISTAV EOKERLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Merrill, in the county of Lincoln and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Collars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in horse collars and has particular reference to an improved form of coupling whereby the lower ends of the two sections of a collar may be detachably connected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collar which consists in two separate and similar sections which are connected at their upper terminals by a buckle and strap and are pivotally united at their lower terminals by means of a coupling which is formed in two sections, each of which is adjustably secured to one of the collar sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collar which possesses the above characteristics and is, at the same time, relatively simple in construction so that it may be cheaply manufactured.

The above, and other incidental objects of a similar nature, which will be hereinafter more specifically treated are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein there has been illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention, as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2 is a detail view partly in section of the exposed terminals of the collar sections; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33,of Fig. 1.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, wherein the collar is best shown in assembled entirety, the numerals 10 and 11 designate the two similar sections of the collar. These two members 10 and 11 each include the longitudinally curved back plate 12 on the inner edge of which is formed a tubular rim, in.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Application filed May 15, 1915. Serial No. 28,416.

dicated at 13. The upper ends of the back plates are curved, as disclosed in Fig. 1, and are connected by a buckle 14: and a billet 15. A sweat pad may, of course, be placed beneath the collar in the well known manner.

Each back plate is provided on its outer edge with a plurality of spaced apertures, through which may pass leather thongs or equivalent flexible elements for securing an inner facing strip 18 of leather to the back piece, for securing the padding in place. Along the inner edge of each of the back plates, is formed a similar series of spaced apertures through which may be passed thongs or equivalent flexible elements for securing the inner edges of the leather strips in place.

In connecting the lower terminals of the back plates, I employ a coupling which consists of two sections, generally designated by the letters A and B, in Fig. 1. The section A includes a threaded shank 19 and a yoke 20 which is formed integrally therewith and is provided with transversely alined bores 21, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The shank is provided with a longitudinal groove 22, in which may be engaged the inner end of a set screw 23 for securing the shank in adjusted position. The lower end of the tubular rim of each of. the sections 10 and 11 is straight, as indicated at 24: and is provided with an internal thread to receive the shank of the coupling member. It is to be observed in this connection that the thread of the tubular rim is formed by a stamping process, since the sheet metal from which the back plate and rims are formed, is relatively thin and it would be disastrous to cut a thread a sufiicient depth. The coupling member B includes a shank 25 similar to the shank of the member A which is provided with a head plate 26 from which projects a lug 27 having a transverse bore 28. The shank of the member B is insertible in the threaded portion 29 of the collar section 11 and is provided with a longitudinal groove 30 wherein may be engaged the inner end of a set screw 31 for holding the shank against rotation after the coupling member B has been adjusted. When the couplings are connected, the lug 27 lies between the arms of the yoke 20 with its bore 28 in registration with the bores of the yoke so that a coupling pin 32 may be passed through the yoke and lug, thereby pivotally connecting the two sections of the coupling. If desired, a pair of helical springs, indicated at 33 may be wound about the projecting portions of the in the tubes to vary the extent of space between the two sections of the collar.

In reduction to practice, it has been found that the form of this invention illustrated in the drawings, and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most efiicient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of this device will necessarily vary, it is desirable to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, as defined by the appended claims.

WVhat is claimed is 1. A horse collar including two similar collar sections each provided with'a tubular rim having its lower terminal extending in a horizontal plane and provided with internal threads, and a coupling pivotally connecting the lower terminals of the tubular member, said coupling including a yoke member, a threaded shank extending from the yoke and inserted in the threaded portion of one of the rims, a lug disposed between the arms of'the yoke, a threaded shank extending from the lug and engaged in the threaded portion of the other rim, a

pin passing through the arms of the yoke 1 having its lower terminal extending in a horizontal plane and provided with internal threads, and a coupling pivotally connecting the lower terminals of the tubular member, said coupling including a yoke member, a threaded shank extending from the yoke and inserted in thethreaded portion of one of the rims, a lug disposed between the arms of the yoke, a threaded shank extending from the lug and engaged in the threaded portion of the other rim, a pin passing through the arms of the yoke and the lug for pivotally connecting the lug and yoke, fastening means passing through the threaded portion of each rim, in engagement with the shank thereon for maintaining the shank against rotation, and a helical spring wound about each of said shank members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' OHRISTAV EGKERLE.

Witnesses:

ALICE M. DE VALL, ABLE E. Gunmen.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

